Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: March 7th, 2017
320 Pages
Synopsis: Oscar is misunderstood. Ever since his mother died, he’s been disrespected and bullied by his family, and he seeks refuge in his art. Vance is a popular athlete and wishes his brother would just loosen up and be cool. It was hard enough to deal with their mother’s death without Oscar getting all emotional. Vance just wants to throw himself into partying, to live.
But when their father’s alcoholism sends him into liver failure, the two boys must come face-to-face with their demons–and each other–if they are going to survive an uncertain future.
Ultimatum is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking look at a family torn apart by alcoholism and drug addiction. As the story opens, Oscar and Vance having already lost their mother in a car accident, are keeping watch in a hospice, over their father as he lays dying from kidney failure. Vance, the popular, extroverted lacrosse player, and Oscar, the sensitive, artistic introvert, despise each other. Oscar thinks Vance and his father have never tried to understand him or make him feel part of the family. Vance, views his younger brother as someone who would rather hole up in his room and mope, rather than enjoy life. The chapters alternate between the brothers as well as the the past and present which allows the reader to see how things developed to this point. I have to admit I thoroughly despised Vance at first. He seems to definitely take after his father in terms of arrogance, selfishness, and misogyny. He also shares his father’s addiction problems. He shows complete contempt for just about everyone, but saves the worst of his attitude toward Oscar. I honestly wanted to smack him at times. Oscar broke my heart with his grief and isolation from his brother and father. An artist and classical music fan, it seems in the beginning that there is no way for the two brothers to bridge the chasm that their family circumstances has made between them. But this story and Oscar and Vance have many layers. The amount of growth in their development is amazing. In the end Ultimatum is a journey of two brothers who each deal with their grief in different ways. It’s full of sadness, anger, and helplessness, yet ends on a note of hope. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished, and it’s one that I highly recommend for teens and adult fans of YA fiction.
ignitedmoth said:
Wow, this sounds so heavy, but really, really good. Thanks for sharing!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It is pretty heavy, but it’s so well written!💁🏻
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Jay said:
Sounds sad but very interesting. Great review – I’m curious!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Jay. It is a sad story, but it’s worth it!💁🏻
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TeacherofYA said:
Great review! I’ve seen this one around and I was wondering about it!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you! I definitely recommend checking it out!💁🏻
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TeacherofYA said:
I’ll have to now!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😊
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LizScanlon said:
Agree with the above commenters- sounds like a really heavy but, at the same time, interesting book. Brilliant review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks so much Liz, It’s heavy but realistic and ends on a hopeful note.💁🏻
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BrizzleLass said:
Sounds like an incredibly moving story.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It definitely is.
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YAandWine said:
Oooh, a five star rating?! Definitely checking this out! Fab review, Kim!
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
Gosh this sounds like such a phenomenal read! Great review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you so much. It was a really well written story about a difficult topic.💁🏻
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
You’re welcome! And that’s great- it sounded like a heavy topic- glad it was done so well!
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Carrie said:
Sounds good, I probably scrolled right past this one on Netgalley though since I’ve pretty much given up on Sourcebooks Fire. 😦
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
That’s soo frustrating!😕😡
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Carrie said:
Yes, for some reason Sourcebooks doesn’t seem to like me. I have no clue as to why since I rarely get declined otherwise.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s really bizarre. I think I’ve commented in the past that I’m pretty sure at 41% I have a much lower ratio than you, yet I’ve been pre-approved.🤷🏻♀️
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Carrie said:
I’m a 93 at the moment… although I haven’t requested from them for quite a while but I’m sure I would have been at least in the 80s then. Ran a test with a friend once who’s percentage was nearing single digits at the time while I was at the ‘suggested’ above 80. I requested one first just to see if it was a matter of too many copies….nope, she was approved and I was declined. So weird.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
That is impressive! You have way more control than I do. That is really odd though. Have you considered contacting them directly?
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Carrie said:
Actually I just figure it’s their loss at this point. I have to drag myself away from requesting all the time anyway. LOL That 93 is still with almost 50 books on my shelf a lot of which that were already published when I got them so I keep trying to get them caught up while keeping up with new ones. Just keep picking them up as fast as I read them though so I never get lower.
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Garabrandt Reviews said:
Great review! This book sounds amazing!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It truly is!💁🏻
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beetleypete said:
5 stars for a serious subject. Sounds like a good one, Kim!
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It most definitely was Pete!💁🏻
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Lashaan and Trang (Bookidote) said:
Really nice review! I’m glad to hear it has a note of hope in it since the themes in it sound so dark and heavy.
– Lashaan
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lashaan!💁🏻
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